A true historical reconstruction of the arrival in Roquemaure in 1868 of the relics of Saint-Valentine, patron saint of lovers, the Fête des amoureux or Festo de Poutoun takes place in mid-February, on the Saturday and Sunday closest to Saint-Valentine's Day.
In 1868, a wealthy winegrower brought the relics of this patron saint back from Rome in the hope of restoring health and vigor to the country's vineyards, which had been hit by a terrible vine disease called phylloxera.
For the occasion of this festival, Roquemaure rediscovers its 19th-century appearance, with several hundred people in costume, horsemen and carriages, an old-fashioned market, old trades such as remouleur, rempailleur and vannier, an old-fashioned post office, a bandstand and the Lovers' Fountain...
This popular festival is totally free for visitors, and is a combination of historical re-enactment in period costume, folk knowledge festival, traditional music gathering and local produce festival, with an old-fashioned market featuring over a hundred craftsmen, arts and craftswomen and wine stalls.
As part of the Fête des Amoureux, Roquemaure also hosts the Roquemaure Barrel Organ Festival, “Les Manivelles de l'Amour”, featuring French, Belgian, German and Swiss crank turners.
Those wishing to take part in the 800-strong parade can rent a peasant or bourgeois costume of their choice.
Roquemaure's big Valentine's Day celebration, with its craft market, street parades and stalls, only takes place every 2 years. The main festival will take place in February 2025.
A lighter program is offered in even-numbered years.
For more information, contact the Roquemaure Tourist Office
at 04 66 90 21 01.
https://www.saintvalentin.org/
Translated with DeepL.com
(free version)
Idées Cadeaux et Promotions
